Archive for the ‘cancer’ Category

…the 60+ percent of our population who are overweight or obese. According to a new report in The Guardian, excess weight is likely to double the number of cancer deaths in the next 40 years. The saddest part: about one-third of those deaths are preventable with lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and more activity.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face and many people simply don’t know that being overweight can lead to major health problems, including cancer….”

It’s truly mystifying to me that people don’t connect weight and health. But rather than try to figure out how that happened, it seems more productive to focus on weight loss and management.

Where to start? Admit there’s a problem!! Addicts can’t realistically deal with addiction until they acknowledge that they are in trouble. So start by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) with this handy tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to see if you fall into the overweight or obese categories. Then check back here for frequent updates on weight loss news. (HINT: The man in the photograph is looking in the wrong place. Weight loss does not start in the medicine chest!)

In fact, here’s a great overall suggestion from the Guardian article:

“The experts urged people to stay slim and abstain from too much fast food, red meat and preserved meat, such as ham and bacon, as well as alcohol.”

What does this have to do with crafting? More than you might think. Because crafting (and many jobs these days) is so sedentary, it’s almost a given that you’ll gain weight if that’s all you’re doing. And now I’m going for a walk!